Jewish Atlanta kicks off the observance of the State of Israel’s 75th birthday with a free, two-day exploration of the connections and influences between Georgia and Israel on Feb. 4 and 5.

“Israel@75: Zionism and Us” features such speakers as Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon, The Temple Senior Rabbi Peter Berg, Atlanta Scholars Kollel Rabbi David Silverman, former Hadassah Medical Organization National Chair Rachel Schonberger, JNF Vice President Alan Wolk and longtime community leader Janice Rothschild Blumberg.

Those leaders and others will participate in three panel discussions addressing two themes at two sites:

• “How has Zionism succeeded? What is left unfinished” on Saturday night, Feb. 4, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody.

• “How has Israel affected us at home” on Sunday morning, Feb. 5, at Chabad Intown near Ponce City Market. One panel will talk about Israeli innovations. The second will bring together four generations of Georgians to speak about their personal ties to and views of Israel and how the state’s existence and development have influenced life for Georgia’s Jewish community.

“Zionism and Us” is part of the nonprofit Center for Israel Education’s Israel@75: A Yearlong Exploration project, leading to Israel’s 75th birthday in late April and mid-May. CIE and Emory University’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel are organizing the event in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Marcus JCC, the American Jewish Committee’s Atlanta regional office, the Anti-Defamation League’s Southeast Region, the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, the Israeli American Council’s Atlanta office, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, the Jewish National Fund’s Southeast Region, Hadassah Greater Atlanta, Limmud Atlanta & Southeast, The Temple and The Weber School.

The Saturday night program begins at 7:45 with a wine reception featuring Israeli food and the unveiling of CIE’s latest Israel@75 list and includes a special video introduction on Zionism today by scholar Gil Troy.

The Sunday morning program begins at 10:30, with doors opening for coffee, snacks and socializing at 10.

“Israel@75: Zionism and Us” is free, but registration is required by Feb. 1. Visit israeled.org/zionism-and-us to find more details and to sign up.

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